National News

ISLAMABAD, (APP): The government is in process to improve
monitoring mechanism of Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) through enhanced market surveillance, surprise visits besides regular quarterly inspection of plants.
The Authority has been satisfactorily performing its functions,
however, in order to make it more effective, some initiatives have been undertaken which also included a Mobile Testing Laboratory, functional at Karachi while similar laboratories have also been planned to be introduced in all major cities of the country.
Sources at Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) while
highlighting the steps on Wednesday said Foreign Manufacturer License Scheme (FML) has also been proposed to benefit importers by reducing clearing time at point of import.
The proposal is under active consideration.
The sources said other steps include signing of MOUs with counterpart
International Organizations for enhanced credibility and mutual recognition, with a view to facilitate exporters was also part of the measures, up-gradation, in terms of equipment and qualified manpower, of PSQCA Testing Laboratories and increasing number of Accredited Tests, process of hiring of merit based qualified manpower against vacant posts which is in hand.
The sources said amendments in PSQCA Act are being proposed
to ensure improved governance. The proposed amendments, interalia,
include re-constitution of BoD reconstitution of advisory council/
Executive Committee, Enhancement of Penalties etc. and added
re-structuring of PSQCA has also been proposed in National Quality
Policy (NQP), to meet the best international practices.
NQP summary is presently under consideration of the Cabinet
for approval.
The sources said presently, 103 items are included in
mandatory scheme of PSQCA, out of which 37 are food items.
The Bottled Drinking Water, Natural Mineral Water,
Banaspati (Ghee) and Oil also fall under list of mandatory items of
PSQCA.
The sources said PSQCA has constituted market surveillance
teams in different regions of the country which are actively working
on subject matter and taking appropriate steps including seizing of
plants on observation of non-compliance to the requisite Quality and
Safety Standards of mandatory items.
These are being regulated through continuous open market
surveillance as per Conformity Assessment Rules (CA) of PSQCA
against the standard parameters and requirements of relevant
Pakistan.